President Higgins to visit refugee camp in Greece during State visit
Irish President Michael D Higgins is to visit a refugee camp during a state visit to Greece.
The three-day trip, which begins on Thursday, also includes meetings with the Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos, Prime Minister Alexis Tsiparas and other senior political figures.
Thousands of migrants have been stuck in make-shift camps across Greece since a series of Balkan border closures and an EU-Turkey deal on stemming migration.
Refugees occupy a disused swimming pool on the Greek island of Lesbos (PA)
The President will see first hand the conditions in which they have been living when he visits a camp outside Athens on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mr Higgins – who will be accompanied by his wife Sabina – will also receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Athens, where he is expected to give a lecture on the ancient and enduring relationship between Ireland and Greece.
His office has confirmed other engagements include a State dinner, wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown solider in Athens, a breakfast meeting with Irish and Greek business leaders at the Acropolis Museum and a concert performed by Irish and Greek artists at the Megaron Concert Hall organised by Culture Ireland and the Irish Embassy.
